Cigarette ejecting device



v F. ROTH CIGARETTE EJEGTING yDEVICE Sept. 7, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1946 y y CIGARETTE EJEGTING DEVCE- l Filed June 2l, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FRED Rom was@ Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE EJECTIN G DEVICE Fred Roth, Brooklyn, N. Y., Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,514

(o1. 31a-75) l 13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a cigarette holding and ejecting device and in particular to one having a minimum number of parts.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holding and dispensing device in which a novel form of ejecting means is employed that will be operated at each successive action of the device in ejecting operation to automatically select and position a single cigarette so that .it can be brought into sight at one end of the device. Also at the end of the ejecting motion of an operating part, it can be swung up to vertical position so that it can be readily removed from the containerwithout damaging either of the ends thereon. In a great many dispensing devices, one of the objections is to the mutilation of one end of the cigarette when it is taken out of the container, and to this end I provide means where the cigarette itself is maneuvered into position so that the dispensing action of the parts of the device will automatically bring the cigarette into a position to be readily removed from the holder without damage.

Other objects of my invention provide for the manufacture, at small cost, of a cigarette holding and dispensing device in which a minimum number of parts are employed and in which only one single movable element is employed that is operated manually to successively bring the cigarettes within the container into position to be automatically dispensed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a View in perspective of a cigarette dispensing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cigarette device illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the cover thereof slid forward to closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 is a View in line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged. fragmentary view in section of the dispensing device showing the action of the drop panel employed in bringing cigarettes to dispensing position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing one of the cigarettes in position to be tilted.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing a cigarette in position to be dispensed.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6 showing the various positions of a cigarette being moved to upended position.

vertical section taken on the Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the drop panel used in the device.

Fig. l0 is a similar View to Fig. 9, showing a modication.

Fig. 11 is a similar View to Fig. 5, featuring the modification illustrated in Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I0 indicates the casing or housing of a dispensing device which consists of the front and rear walls and |'2 respectively connected by the side walls I3 and -|4 whose upper ends are inclined. The top of the casing is closed by a. suitable slide cover |5 whose forward slidingmotion is limited by suitable pins I6, the cover being removable for thepurpose of loading the device with cigarettes.

vThe bottom of the housing consists of cross strips Il and |8 at the front and rear of the housing respectively, the latter supporting a guide pin Ill disposed in vertical alignment with a similar pin 20, depending from the under side of an inclined drop panel 2| which constitutes the floor of the housing and upon which is supported a number of cigarettes 22 for gravity feed. The panel 2| at its rear edge is disposed between cross cleats 23 and is fastened to the rear wall of the housing I2 by a suitable pin 24 or hinge which will permit vertical tilting movement of the panel 2| about said pin as a fulcrum and against the yieldable resistance of a coil spring 25 positioned between said panel 2| and strip 8 and held in place by guide pins I9 and 20.

The front wall of the housing is provided with an opening 26 through which passes a iinger tab 2l formed on the forward edge of the drop panel 2|. The upper edge of the opening 26 limits the position to which the panel 2| can be raised by the spring 25 and in this position of the panel, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the cigarettes will roll down the inclined drop panel and be held adjacent the front edge of the cover |5 by stop pins 28 spaced inwardly from the side edges of the panel 2|. The opposite side edges of the panel 2| are provided with openings 30 and 3|, the opening 30- being cut inwardly from the edge of a corner cut out 32 in register with which is positioned a tilt block 33 secured in any suitable manner in the corner of the housing.

Secured to the inside surfaces of the side walls I3 and I4, and at a point just inside the forward edge of the top l5, are mounted cam blocks 35 and 35 over which pass the openings 3G and 3| respectively as the panel 2| swings down when the linger tab 21 thereof is pushed down.

In Fig. 3, the drop panel 2| is in its uppermost position and the cigarettes 22 are lined up behind the stop pins 28 so that the opposite ends of the nrst cigarette, or the one in contact with the stop pins, overlies the openings 3|) and 3|. The cam blocks 35 and 36 are shaped to present vertical rear faces 3.8 and arcuate front faces 39, the

lower ends of the latter of which are substantially in alignment with the stop pins 28. When the panel 2l swings down, the first cigarette resting against the stop pins 28 will be raised off the upper -surface of the panel 2|' and will be supported between the curved front faces 39 of the cams and the stop pins 38 as shown in Fig. 5. Continued downward motion of the drop panel will cause the stop pins 28 to lower until they reach the point adjacent the lower edge of the cam blocks 39 as shown in Fig. 6 at which time the cigarette will roll over the` tops .of pins 28 and down into the front uncovered section of the receptacle so that one end of said cigarette underlies the tilt block 33 positioned in the corner cf the housing. As the drop panel is lowered, the second cigarette is intercepted by the vertical wal-lv 38 of the cam 'blocks and the continued downward motion of the drop panel will prevent forward feed of all but the first cigarette.

When the finger tab is released, the spring 25 will force the panel upwardly, with the result that the cam released cigarette held at one end under block 33, will be tilted upwardly, as indicated in outline in Fig. 8, to the fully upended position. shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and supported in this position by the panel 2l when the latter is at its uppermost position. The cigarette therefore stands vertically in one corner of the housing, resting on the bottom strip I8, and extending upwardly through the corner cut 32 in said panel 3l.

It is evident that each successive voperation of the drop panel will cause one cigarette to be fed forwardly to a position so that one of its ends is beneath the corner tilt block 33 whereby when the figure tab i-s released and the panel 2| moves upwardly, the cigarette will be brought to vertical position where it can be readily removed from the dispensing device without damage to either of its ends.

It will be evident that through the medium of the cooperation of the cam blocks and the stop pins the cigarettes will be fed successively, lone at a time, to be brought to dispensing position without the necessity of employing mechanically operated par-ts other than the single movable drop panel 2 i. Consequently, in the no-vel device illustrated, no movable parts are used that can get out of order and the casing may be made large enough to accommodate any number of cigarettes, the relatively inclined positions of the drop panel when the latter is in raised position and the lid i5 forming a funnel that will feed only one cigarette at a time to the action of the cam blocks.

In Figs. l and ll, the panel 2W is shown with a stop bar 282L instead of the stop pin 2'8 of the previous figures. This stop bar is adapted to engage the bottom face of the cover Ia and thus to close substantially the full length of the opening 4B, between the panel Zia and the cover 15a, when the device is not operated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, Vwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, detent means for preventing feeding movement o-f the cigarettes, means for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, and cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly.

-42. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, detent means for preventing feeding movement of the cigarettes, means for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly, and means for unending the fed cigarette when the panel moves upwardly.

3. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a, receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged at its rear edge to a wall of the receptacle for vertical 'swinging movement, means for yieldably maintaining the panel in raised position, a finger tab on the panel extending to the exterior of said receptacle for manual depression of said panel, detent means for holding the cigarettes against gravitational feed along the inclined panel when the'latter is in raised position and means for feeding the cigarettes seriatim to the front of the receptacle upon each downward movement of said panel.

4. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged at its rear edge to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement, means for vyieldably maintaining the panel in raised position, a nnger tab on the panel extending to the exterior of said receptacle for manual depression of said panel, detent means for holding the cigarettes against gravitational feed along the inclined panel when the latter is in raised position, means for feeding the cigarettes seriatim to the front of the receptacle upon each downward movement of said panel, and means for upendlng a fed cigarette when the panel moves upwardly;

5. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, detent means for preventing feeding movement of the cigarettes, means for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly, and said detent means including spaced pins against which the opposite ends of the cigarette rest.

6. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined lpanel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feedI detent means for Apreventing feeding movement of the cigarettes, means for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly, and said cam means including cam blocks mounted on the side walls of the receptacle to be passed by the panel in downward movement.

7. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, detent means for preventing feeding movement of the cigarettes, means for yieldingly resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly, said cam means including cam blocks mounted on the side walls of the receptacle to be passed by the panel in down-- ward movement and said detent means being arranged to position a cigarette with the ends thereof for engagement -by said cani blocks for lifting the cigarette over said detent means.

8. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, detent means for preventing feeding movement of the cigarettes, means for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly, the front Iwall of said receptacle having an opening therein and a finger tab on the end of said panel extending through said opening for limiting the vertical swinging movements of the panel and providing manual operating means therefor.

9. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, detent means for preventing feeding movement of the cigarettess means for yieldingly resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said detent means when the panel moves downwardly, and said yieldable movement resisting means including a spring disposed between the bottom of the receptacle and the underside of the panel at a point adjacent said hinge.

10. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle having a top opening at the front end thereof, a panel hinged to the rear wall of the casing and shaped to provide a finger tab, the front wall of said casing having an opening through which said tab extends to hold the panel in inclined raised position, a spring for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, the opposite side edges of the panel being provided with out out portions, cam members mounted on the interior side walls of said casing and positioned to be passed over by said cut out portions when the panel has swinging movement, and detent pins for arresting the gravity feed of cigarettes along the panel and for successively positioning the cigarettes with the opposite ends thereof above said cam members whereby, upon each downward movement of the panel, a cigarette will be raised off the panel and fed over said detent pins to the front uncovered portion of the casing.

11. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle having a top opening at the front end thereof, a panel hinged to the rear wall of the casing and shaped to provide a finger tab, the front Wall of said casing having an opening through which said tab extends to hold the panel in inclined raised position, a spring for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, the opposite side edges of the panel being provided with cut out portions, cam members mounted on the interior side walls of said casing and positioned to be passed over by said cut out portions when the panel has swinging movement, detent pins for arresting the gravity feed lof oigarettes along the panel and for successively positioning the cigarettes with the opposite ends thereof above said cam members whereby, upon each downward movement of the panel7 a cigarette will be raised oil the panel and fed over said detent pins to the front uncovered portion of the casing, and a corner block in the casing beneath which an end of a cigarette, lodged in said uncovered portion, is positioned whereby an upward movement of the panel will tilt said cigarette and position it on end in a corner of the casing.

12. A -cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle having a top opening at the front end thereof, a panel hinged to the rear Wall of the casing and shaped to provide a finger tab, the front wall of said casing having an opening through which said tab extends to hold the panel in inclined raised position, a spring for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, the opposite side edges of the panel being provided with cut out portions, cam members mounted on the interior side walls of said casing and positioned to be passed over by said cut out portions when the panel has swinging movement, detent `pins for arresting the gravity feed of cigarettes along the panel and for successively positioning the cigarettes with the opposite ends thereof above said cam members whereby, upon each downward movement of the panel, a cigarette will be raised off the panel and fed over said detent pins to the front uncovered portion of the casing, a corner block in the casing beneath which an end of a cigarette lodged in said uncovered portion, is positioned whereby an upward movement of the panel will tilt said cigarette and posion it on end in a corner of the casing, a slidable cover for the casing and means for limiting the movement of the cover forwardly to provide said top opening at the front end of said casing.

13. A cigarette dispensing container comprising a receptacle, a forwardly inclined panel hinged to a wall of the receptacle for vertical swinging movement and upon which cigarettes are supported for forward gravitational feed, `detent means for preventing feeding movement of the cigarettes, means for yieldably resisting downward swinging movement of said panel, and cam means associated with said panel for feeding a cigarette over said Idetent means when the panel moves downwardly, said detent means including a detent bar extending transversely of the dispensing container substantially the full width of the ejecting opening.

FRED ROTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,698,955 Lutfring Jan. 15, 1929 1,861,834 Binggeli June '7, 1932 1,919,535 Siqveland July 25, 1933 2,083,465 Mayer June 8, 1937 

